Can't reach Social Security Administration? Claimyr connects you to a live SSA agent in minutes.
Claimyr is a pay-as-you-go service. We do not charge a recurring subscription.
Using Claimyr will:
- Connect you to a human agent at the SSA
- Skip the long phone menu
- Call the correct department
- Redial until on hold
- Forward a call to your phone with reduced hold time
- Give you free callbacks if the SSA drops your call
If I could give 10 stars I would
If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
Really made a difference
Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
Worth not wasting your time calling for hours.
Was a bit nervous or untrusting at first, but my calls went thru. First time the wait was a bit long but their customer chat line on their page was helpful and put me at ease that I would receive my call. Today my call dropped because of EDD and Claimyr heard my concern on the same chat and another call was made within the hour.
An incredibly helpful service
An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
Consistent,frustration free, quality Service.
Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
IT WORKS!! Not a scam!
I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
One last thing to note - if your husband filed on 2/9/25 and requested benefits to begin immediately, his official month of entitlement will be February 2025. His first payment (arriving in March) will include the prorated February amount. Just be aware that if this is his Full Retirement Age (which sounds likely at 67), there's no advantage to specifying the start date as his filing date vs. the start of the month. If he's at or past FRA, he could actually request retroactive benefits for up to 6 months (depending on when he reached FRA).
Oh! I didn't realize that about possibly getting retroactive benefits. He just turned 67 in January so I think he just hit his FRA. I wonder if we should call and ask about changing his application to request some retroactive benefits. That could really help with some expenses we have coming up.
I think everyone here is missing the MOST IMPORTANT POINT. Make sure your husband created his my Social Security account online! That's where you can see the status of his application, when payments will arrive, and set up or change direct deposit. The website is ssa.gov/myaccount and it's WAY easier than calling or going to an office.
This is excellent advice. The online account shows your payment history, benefit verification, and even has a message center where they sometimes post updates about your application status. Much more efficient than waiting on hold for hours.
Join the conversation
For those concerned about the potential COLA for 2025, here's some historical context: - 2023 COLA: 8.7% (highest in 40 years due to inflation spike) - 2024 COLA: 3.2% (as inflation began moderating) - Previous 10-year average (2014-2023): approximately 2.6% - Years with 0% COLA: 2010, 2011, 2016 Current inflation trends suggest we'll likely see a COLA in the 1.5-2.5% range for 2025, assuming inflation continues at similar rates through Q3. While lower than recent years, this is actually closer to historical norms. The official announcement will come from SSA in mid-October 2024.
This historical context is really helpful. I guess I got spoiled by the bigger COLAs the last couple years. Even 1.5% would be better than nothing for my budget.
Join the conversation
Thank you all for the helpful responses! It sounds like I need to: 1. Let my SSDI automatically convert at FRA 2. Apply separately for spousal benefits (whether married or divorced) 3. Contact SSA 3-4 months before reaching FRA to start this process 4. Watch out for any Medicare premium issues during the transition I feel much better having a plan now. I was so confused by the conflicting information I got from the SSA representatives. Does anyone know if there's a specific form I need to fill out to apply for the spousal benefits when the time comes?
You'll want to file Form SSA-2 (Application for Wife's or Husband's Insurance Benefits) if still married, or Form SSA-1 (Application for Divorced Spouse's Benefits) if divorced by then. However, the easiest approach is to apply online through your my Social Security account or schedule an appointment with your local office about 3 months before your FRA. They'll guide you through all the necessary paperwork for your specific situation.
one more thing!! if u do get divorced make SURE u get a copy of ur marriage certificate AND divorce decree. ssa made me go back and forth 3 times for more paperwork. total nightmare!!!
That's really good advice - thank you! I'll make sure to keep copies of everything. I'm hoping we can work things out, but I want to be prepared either way.
Join the conversation
also think about what happens when you do fully retire. will your wifes benefit be enough to support both of you if yours hasn't started yet? my friend had to go back to work at 72 because they didn't plan this right!!
One additional consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet: while your Social Security benefits can be subject to income tax, they're typically taxed at a lower effective rate than regular income. So even if you're in a higher tax bracket due to working + collecting SS, you may still come out ahead financially compared to just your work income alone. Also, if you're planning to continue working for several more years, claiming now gives you more flexibility. You could use the SS income to max out retirement account contributions, pay down debt, or build an emergency fund that will serve you well in full retirement.
I appreciate all this thoughtful advice. I think I'm leaning toward taking SS now while continuing to work. The immediate cash flow would let us keep our lifestyle without dipping into savings, and we could even put some away for when I do fully retire. I'll probably use that Claimyr service someone mentioned to talk to SSA directly about my specific numbers before making the final decision.
Ali Anderson
Not sure if anyone said this but don't forget that SS checks are TAXED too!!! Up to 85% of them depending on your other income!! The govt gets u coming and going!!!
0 coins
Ruby Knight
•That's an important point about taxation. If your combined income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of Social Security benefits) exceeds certain thresholds, then up to 85% of your benefits may be subject to income tax. For 2025, those thresholds are approximately $25,000 for individuals and $32,000 for married filing jointly. It's definitely something to factor into retirement planning.
0 coins
Zadie Patel
I remember when my mom had to make this decision! So stressful figuring out all these rules. Sending good thoughts your way!
0 coins
Nina Chan
•Thank you! It is stressful trying to make the right choice. Did your mom end up taking benefits early or waiting?
0 coins